Having a sort out- Are these items of worth keeping please? The box has ‘adult’ decoration inside which was as a bit of surprise so I censored it to avoid offending! If anyone can help with information as to age/ origin/ manufacture and if these are keepers I’d be grateful. Thankyou
Lol, It took me a moment to realise what I was looking at!. I was thinking 'oh what a pretty box' then 'Oh, I'd better censor that!', I'm by myself but I think I even blushed a little
The saucer fascinates me. Either it depicts some scene from mythology unknown to me or is completely incoherent. Diana with her bow & hounds and what could be a couple of her maiden followers, approached by a man leading a garlanded bull or ox. In the center some kind of monument/altar that has relief decorations I can't make out, with racks for holding offerings placed either side. A bunch of Stoic philosopher types gathered on the left. A lone woman who looks to be in a Bacchic transport, except also carrying a palm frond? What the hey?! What does the other side of the cup look like; who/what is in the cart?
I believe your naughty box is Japanese, and the appropriate search term would be "shunga" if you want to try to find comparative examples.
No real information here. https://www.carters.com.au/index.cf...n-cups-and-saucers-by-fsk-czechoslovakia-and/
This listings is too old for the photos to display: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Friedrich-Simon-Karlsbad-Czech-Espresso-Demitasse-Cup-Saucer-Bohemian-ArtNouveau-/111839641502?roken=cUgayN&nma=true&si=XSfFPXDY9L9abELFxTpPhafjab4%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 but seems it looked like this: Friedrich Simon Karlsbad.
I've just seen that and its sold so that's useful you know how it was priced. I can't find anything the same as this one online. I'd like to know the translation of the lid and underneath- ( but there again I might blush even more!)
Although also very fanciful in imagination, the description of the scene on the cup as being a Roman triumphal procession is essentially correct. The chariot looks as though it may have a sphinx on the front of it, suggesting the victory was over Egypt.
Lots of artistic interpretation! Any idea about the random oxen etc on the saucer? Seems odd the scene on cup and saucer are different.
Most of the elements can be worked into the triumphal procession motif with little difficulty, my 'philosophers' might be senators, the poor bull headed for sacrificial slaughter. The part that gives me trouble is this group: The hounds & bow are properly Diana's. It would be a departure from artistic convention, but maybe she is meant to be an Amazon? I'm taking suggestions.
